This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: LaylaCries Surnames: Sinks, Adkins, Day Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.sinks/141/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Biographical History of LaCrosse, Monroe, and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin. 1892 Since the Historical Society sells these to make some money I'll just add parts. William Sinks, the genial proprietor of the hotel of Wilson, Wisconsin, is one of the honored pioneers of the Kickapoo vally. He was born at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1830, a son of Powell and Mary (Clavel) Sinks, natives of Tn and Ky respectively; the parents came to St. Louis in 1827, and there spent the remainder of thier lives, the mother died in 1843, and the father survived her ten years. (Her name should be Sarah Ann Clavell, his wife was Mary; his father lived about 14 years longer.) William passed his youth in his native city until he was sixteen, when he secured employment on a steamer plying between St. Louis and New Orleans, he was on the river two years and was in New Orlean in 1849 when the cholera broke out in this country; he came up the river to Prairie du Chien, walked to the mouth of the Kickapoo, and thence to Boydstown, Crawford County; where he secured work, and split rails for $16.00 a month. (for a short while) In 1870 he built the hotel at Ontario, which he conducted with merited success until 1877, when the property was destroyed by fire. Having no insurance he lost everything. He went after this misfortune to Minnesota and took up a tree claim of 160 acres; he planted the trees required by law, proved up, and still owns the land; and the end of one year he returned to this county, built a hotel at Wilton, and is now managing this hostelry, a very popular resort of the traveling public. Mr. Sinks was married July 11, 1853, to Miss Mary A. Day, a daughter of Travis and Emma (Adkins) Day. Note; They had six children; George, went to St. Paul, Minnesota Amanda Henry C. Luther J. Nina, died at age 19 Charles died before 1892 he was married with a son and dau Then it says he had asthma and was rejected for service in Civil War so he paid $500 for a substitute to go in his place. >From a cemetery lookup in Monroe Co. Wis; Wilton Hillside Ceme Sinks-mother- Amanda I. w/Charles-no dates Charles 1891 age 12 (his age is not correct) Earl s/C and A 1891 10 months Nina no date (about 1890) Myrtle d/C and A 1895 age 19 Nellie d/C and A 1894 age 6 Wm 1830-1893 Mary A. 1831-1894 the death records don't add up but Charles probably did have more than one son and a dau. looks like a TB family the way they died close together... 1870 per lookup Vernon Co Wis George Sinks 39 Mo lumberman Mary Ann 37 WI Amanda 14 WI George 16 WI Charles 12 WI Henry 10 WI Luther 5 WI Ninnie 7 months The reason I put George for his middle name is the lookup sent it as George, on 1860 census he was William, think that was Monroe county. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.